Locking device

ABSTRACT

A LOCKING DEVICE INCLUDES A CATCH MEMBER SECURED TO A FIRST STRUCTURE AND A CLASPING MEMBER SECURED TO A SECOND STRUCTURE, THE CLASPING MEMBER DEFINING A CIRCULAR CHANNEL HAVING AN OPENING IN ONE SIDE IN A POSITION TO RECEIVE THE CATCH MEMBER TO LOCK THE FIRST AND SECOND STRUCTURES TOGETHER. A TRAIN MEANS PREFERABLY IN THE FORM OF A SERIES OF BALL BEARINGS IS CIRCUMFERENTIALLY DISPOSED IN THE CIRCULAR CHANNEL AND HAS ITS ENDS ENGAGING THE CATCH MEMBER WHEN THE CATCH MEMBER IS RECEIVED IN THE OPENING TO HOLD THE CATCH MEMBER TO THE CLASPING MEMBER. A RELEASING MEANS CHANGES THE CIRCUMFERENTIAL CONFIGURATION OF THE TRAIN MEANS IN SUCH A MANNER AS TO MOVE THE ENDS OF THE TRAIN MEANS OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH THE CATCH MEMBER TO THEREBY RELEASE THE CATCH MEMBER.

Jan, 12", 1971 gR QA lH' 3,553,984

1 LOCKING DEVICE firmed may 21. 1969 gill g 27/ I30 J Q FIG. 2

INVENTOR ALFRED T. GRUMBACH B) ATTOIQ/V VS United States Patent US. CI.70-99 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A locking device includes acatch member secured to a first structure and a clasping member securedto a second structure, the clasping member defining a circular channelhaving an opening in one side in a position to receive the catch memberto lock the first and second structures together. A train meanspreferably in the form of a series of ball bearings is circumferentiallydisposed in the circular channel and has its ends engaging the catchmember when the catch member is received in the opening to hold thecatch member to the clasping member. A releasing means changes thecircumferential configuration of the train means in such a manner as tomove the ends of the train means out of engagement with the catch memberto thereby release the catch member.

This invention relates generally to locking devices and moreparticularly to an improved positive catch member and clasping devicefor securement directly to first and second structures such as a doorand a door jamb to enable locking and quick releasing of the structures.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Many available locking devices such as mightbe used for sliding glass doors, covers on boxes, and the likeordinarily comprise a catch member cooperating with a clasping member.It is desirable in such devices particularly when used on householddoors of the sliding type that positive locking can be assured and thatthe same be relatively tamper proof. In devices presently available,certain elements within the clasping member are arranged .to interfitwith hook projections or the like on the catch member. If suflicientforce is applied in an attempt to withdraw the catch member, theseelements can become bent or damaged and the security of the lockimpaired.

Aside from security, a desirable provision in such locks is that thesame automatically assume a locked position in response to simplyclosing of the door or reception of the catch member in the lock so thatno positive action is required to effect a locking position after thedoor has been closed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION With the foregoingconsiderations in mind, it is a primary object of the present inventionto provide a novel locking device particularly suitable for slidingglass doors as might be provided in conventional residential homeswherein positive securement is assured by a means which aresubstantially immune from damage as a consequence of extraordinarilyhigh forces applied in an effort to separate the lock or impair itsintegrity.

Briefly, the invention contemplates the provision of a catch memberpreferably in the form of a cylindrical rod provided with diametricallyopposite dimples adjacent a freely extending end portion thereof. Thiscatch member may be secured to a first structure such as a sliding glassdoor. Cooperating with the catch member is a clasping member arranged tobe secured to a second structure such as a door jamb. This claspingmember is in the form of a casing defining an interior circular channelhaving Patented Jan. 12, 1971 a side opening positioned to receive thecylindrical rod when the first structure or door is closed against thesecond structure or jamb.

Within the circular channel there is provided a train means preferablyin the form of a series of ball bearings. The end balls are arranged tobe received respectively in the diametrically opposite dimples on thecylindrical rod when the same is received through the opening of thechannel. In the locking position the balls are all touching each otherand it is not possible to withdraw the rod unless a force of sufficientmagnitude is applied as would crush one of the ball bearings.Accordingly, great strength is assured.

The clasping member also includes a releasing means including means forreceiving one of the balls from the train or series of ball bearingsradially beyond the outer wall of the channel in such a manner that thetrain of BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A better understanding of theinvention will be had by now referring to a preferred embodiment thereofas illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of a residential sliding glassdoor structure incorporating the locking device of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view partly broken away and partly in crosssection illustrating the parts of the locking device when in lockedposition; and,

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but illustrating the device when in areleasing position to permit opening of the door or other structure withwhich the device is used.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1there is shown a conventional sliding door 10 having a front edge 11arranged to engage a door jamb or frame portion 12 when the door isclosed. Arranged to be rigidly secured to the front edge 11 of the door10 is a catch member 13. A cooperating clasping member 14 in turn isarranged to be embedded in the door jamb 12 in a position to cooperatewith the catch member 13 to lock the door 10 in its closed position.While a sliding glass door structure has been shown it should beunderstood that the catch member 13 and clasping member 14 may beprovided on any type of first and second structures to be lockedtogether.

Refering now to FIG. 2, the catch member 13 and clasping member 14 areillustrated in greater detail. As shown, the catch member 13 is in theform of a cylindrical rod with a free extending or projecting end. Thisrod includes diametrically opposite dimples 13a and 14a adjacent to itsfree end.

The clasping member 14 in turn takes the form of a casing 15 defining aninterior annular wall 16 and a core portion 17 These portionsrespectively define a circular channel within the casing 15 designatedgenerally by the numeral 18. This channel includes an opening 19 at oneside positioned to radially receive the cylindrical rod 13 when thesliding door 10 of FIG. 1 is moved to its closed position in thedirection of the arrow.

A train means in the form of a series of ball bearings 20, 21, 22, 23,24, 25, and 26 is circumferentially positioned within the channel 18,all in touching relationship when in the positions shown. The ends ofthis train means are defined by the balls 20 and 26 and are received inthe dimples 13a and 13b respectively in the rod 13 to thereby positivelylock the rod in the channel or casing 15.

The central core 17 of the casing includes a cut out portion 27 ofsufficient size to receive a ball. This cut out portion faces the ball23 in the channel and includes a first compression spring 28. Thiscompression spring extends between the ball 23 and through the core 17to engage the end of the cylindrical rod 13. A second compression spring29 in turn is provided on the outer channel wall bearing against theopposite side of the ball 23 in a radial direction tending to move theball 23 into the cutout portion 27. The first compression spring 28 isstronger than the compression spring 29 so that the ball 23 willnormally be urged into the channel to the position shown in FIG. 2. Inthis position, it will be noted that the center of the ball 23 liesbeyond a straight line drawn between the centers of the balls 22 and 24on either side of the ball 23 as indicated by the dimension d. As aresult, and in view of the configuration illustrated in FIG. 2, it willbe evident that any attempt to withdraw the cylindrical rod 13 to theright simply exerts a compression force between the end balls 20 and 26tending to circumferentially contract the ball train. However, since theballs are all in touching contact with each other and because of theconfinement to the balls by the outer wall 16 of the channel 18, it isnot possible for the balls to move and thus the cylindrical rod '13 islocked in its shown position.

The clasping member assembly is completed by a releasing means in theform of a pivoted lever 30 mounted to the tailpiece of a conventionalkey lock 31 by way of a slot 32. This lever includes an upper flatsurface portion 33 substantially flush with the interior wall 16 of thechannel 18 at its lower portion. The outer wall of the channel at thispoint defines a means for permitting one of the balls such as the ball25 to move radially outwardly beyond the wall when the surface 33 of thelever is swung out of the way of the ball.

With respect to the foregoing, it will be noted that the lever includesa cavity 34 for receiving one of the balls when the lever is moved. Asmall compression spring 35 is provided in the casing structure bearingagainst the left side of the lever 30 to normally hold the lever in theposition illustrated in FIG. 2 so that all of the balls are securedwithin the circular channel.

FIG. 3 illustrates the relative positions of the various elements makingup the clasping member when the cylindrical rod -13 has been withdrawnduring an unlocking operation.

OPERATION With the foregoing description of the various parts of thelocking device in mind, its entire operation will now be described.Assume initially that the sliding glass door is closed so that thecylindrical rod 13 is received in the clasping member 14 all as depictedin FIG. 2. As described heretofore, in this position, the train of ballscannot move since they are all in touching engagement with each other,the end balls 20 and 26 being received in the dimples 13a and 13b. Solong as the releasing means in the form of the lever 30 remains in theposition shown in FIG. 2, which position is normally maintained by thespring 35, it is not possible to withdraw the rod 13. Even excessivelylarge forces applied in an attempt to remove the rod merely appliescompression forces to the ball bearings which may be formed of hardenedsteel.

If now it is desired to open the door, a person will insert a key in thekey way slot 32 associated with the lever 30 and swing the lever 30 tothe left as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 3 compressing the spring 35.This action permits the ball 25 to drop into the cavity 34 therebyrelieving the compression forces between the train of balls.

With the relief of these compression forces, the rod 13 may be withdrawnslightly as a result of exerting pressure on the door to slide the sameopen. As the rod is withdrawn, pressure is relieved from the firstcompression spring 28 in the cut out portion 27 thereby permitting thesecond spring 29 to urge the ball 23 into this cut out portion 27. Thisaction results in further relief in the circumferential train of ballspermitting the end balls to fully separate from the dimples 13a and 13band allow complete withdrawal of the rod 13.

Normally, the operator will relax his pressure on the key in the key way32 and permit the lever 30 to return to its upright position by means ofthe spring 35. At this point the key may be withdrawn.

With reference still to FIG. 3, when the lever 30 returns to its uprightposition, it will urge the ball 25 back into the channel between theballs 24 and 26. This action can easily take place since the ball 23 hasnow been moved into the cut out portion 27 and there is ample room inthe channel for the balls 24 and 26 to expand and receive the ball 25therebetween. The balls may thus assume the position of the balls shownin FIG. 2 except that the ball 23 will be in the cut out portion 27 andheld there by the second spring 29.

If now the sliding glass door 10 of FIG. 1 is closed, the cylindricalrod will pass into the opening 19 and the extreme end thereof willengage the balls 20 and 26 to urge the same away from each other in thecircular channel. This action can take place since the ball 23 is in thecut out portion 27 and there is ample room in the channel for the ballsto expand. As the rod 13 is urged further between the balls 20 and 26,it will engage the end of the first spring 28 exerting a pressurethereon which will tend to move the ball 23 between the balls 22 and 24.This action results since the spring 28 is stronger than the opposingspring 29.

With further insertion of the rod 13, there will be further pressure onthe spring 28 and thus the ball 23 will be urged radially outwardly intothe channel between the balls 22 and 24. This increased movement of theball 23 is communicated through the train of balls to the end balls 20and 26 which will be urged against the outer periphery of the rod 13 andinto the dimples 13a and 13b. The dimensioning of the channel and theballs is such that when the ball 23 is fully urged between the balls 22and 24, the balls 20 and 26 will be seated in the dimples 13a and 1312.Since the channel is designed such that the ball 23 may be moved to aposition in which its center is slightly beyond a straight line drawnbetween the centers of the balls 22 and 24, an over centering actiontakes place which positively prevents the ball 23 from being urged backinto the cut out portion 27 when circumferential pressure is exerted onthe end balls 20 and 26 tending to squeeze the ball 23. Accordingly, therod 13 is positively locked in place and all of the elements are in theinitial positions illustrated in FIG. 2.

If desired, a key way entrance corresponding to 32 may be provided onthe opposite side of the casing structiure for operation from theexterior of the sliding glass oor.

It should be understood that while the clasping member is shown on thejamb and the catch member on the door, these members could, and in manyinstances would be, reversed or mounted the other way. That is, theclasping member would be mounted on the door and the catch member on thejamb.

While the locking device of this invention has been describedparticularly in conjunction with sliding glass doors, it will beevident, as mentioned heretofore, that the device may be used with anytypes of structures wherein a locking action is desired and highstrength and high integrity securing of the structures are the primaryends in view.

What is claimed is:

1. A locking device comprising:

(a) a catch member for securement to a first structure;

and

means comprises a series of ball bearings, said catch memher havingdimples formed on opposite surfaces, the end balls of said series ofball bearings constituting said ends and being receivable in saiddimples respectively to engage said catch member.

(b) a clasping member for securement to a second structure to which saidfirst structure is to be locked, said clasping member defining acircular channel having an opening in one side in a position to receivesaid catch member; train means circumferen- 5 tially movable in saidcircular channel and having ends engaging in said catch member when saidcatch member is received in said opening to hold said catch member tosaid clasping member; and

(c) releasing means in said clasping member for altering theconfiguration of said train means in a manner to move said ends fromengagement with said catch member to thereby free said catch member.

2. A device according to claim 1, in which said train 3. A deviceaccording to claim 2, in which said re- 4. A device for locking a firststructure to a second structure comprising, in combination:'

(a) a catch member in the form of a cylindrical rod secured to andextending from said first structure and including diametrically oppositedimples adjacent to its extending end;

(b) a clasping member secured within said second structure in the formof a casing having an interior circular channel with an opening in oneside in a position to receive said cylindrical rod in a radial directionwhen said first structure is to be locked to said second structure, saidcircular channel in cluding a series of ball bearings in successivetouching positions to define a train of balls the end balls 40 of whichare received in said dimples respectively when said cylindrical rod isreceived radially in said circular channel to thereby lock said rod insaid casing; and

(c) releasing means in said casing intercepting said channel at a pointcircumferentially spaced from said opening, said releasing meansincluding means for receiving one of said balls radially beyond theouter wall of said channel so that upon operation 50 of said releasingmeans, the train of balls can be circumferentially contractedsufiiciently to move the end balls from said dimples and thereby permitwithdrawal of said rod.

5. A device according to claim 4, in which the inner circumferentialwall of said circular channel is defined by a core having a cut outportion facing said channel of sufiicient size to receive a ball, saidcore supporting a first compression spring having one end engaging theball facing said out out portion and its other end extending throughsaid core in alignment with said opening for engagement by said rod whenreceived in said opening; a second compression spring in the outer wallof said channel engaging the opposite side of said ball facing said cutout portion for urging said ball into said cut out portion when said rodis withdrawn, said first spring being stronger than said second springso that when said rod is received in said opening to engage said firstspring, said ball is urged radially out of said out out portion intosaid channel thereby circumferentially extending said ball train toforce the end balls thereof into said dimples and lock said rod in saidchannel, said releasing means being operable to return said one of saidballs into said channel prior to the receiving of said rod in saidopening.

6. A device according to claim 5, in which said ball facing said cut outportion when urged back into said channel has its center position beyonda straight line drawn between the centers of the balls on either sidethereof to thereby positively lock said ball train against furthermovement until said releasing means is again operated, said releasingmeans including a lever having an end surface flush with the outer wallof said channel to hold the ball train in locked position and includinga cavity positionable upon pivoting of said lever to receive said one ofsaid balls radially beyond said outer wall to release said ball train.

7. A device according to claim 6, including a 'key lock for pivotingsaid lever whereby said device can only be operated by a key designed tofit said key lock.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 312,195 2/1885 Ford 292-2,469,201 5/ 1949 Mikkelsen 292252 3,125,790 3/ 1964 Gaylord 292-15X3,129,024 4/ 1964 Schuessler et al. 2 921 5 MARVIN A. CHAMPION, PrimaryExaminer A. G. CRAIG, JR., Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 24244;292-23, 252, 341.15

